Executive EDITOR ROGER HART: 2011 Kia Optima this hybrid is one of the biggest surprises for me, with the year how good it is. First, it looks really good. There is a great exterior design that will have people who are mistaken for something from a manufacturer of Germany. Second, the interior is very slick, big radio interface with a great array of gauges is simple, direct. You don’t have to read the owner’s manual to operate anything here-it’s all a simple and intuitive.
Third, the hybrid drivetrain very smooth, with nary a bit when the system switches between gasoline and battery drive. You should see the dashboard to view the revs drop to zero to learn that the eco drive has kicked in. And will do so if You back off the throttle the speed of the freeway, which is surprising for me.
Fourth, the rear seat is ginormous. A few times, I was carrying three passengers, and all those who sit in the back seat commented on how widespread it is.
OK, negative: I want the Chair to be a little more comfor, with more lateral support and thigh course. Ban seems hard rock, with a nod toward better fuel economy than the ride comfort. Similarly, the suspension doesn’t look very good looking forward to ban it. Travel can be a bit suppler. Third, something (I’m assuming the battery pack) is taking a lot of luggage space. In fact, all things considered, my biggest disappointment was the lack of luggage space. And that’s if it’s the worst comments I could come up with, well, I’d call it a ringing endorsement.
For $ 32,000, there’s a ton of technology that is wrapped in a package that looks fine, relatively comfor. Anyone looking for hybrid propulsion needs to see this before making a decision.